The Education Bloghttp://ripr.org
enRaimondo Kicks Off Search For Education Commissionerhttp://ripr.org/post/raimondo-kicks-search-education-commissioner
<p></p><p>Governor Gina Raimondo began a series of what her office is calling "listening sessions" as part of the search for a new state commissioner of education.</p><p>Rhode Island Public Radio's Elisabeth Harrison reports the governor convened a group of teachers, principals, charter school leaders and district leaders for an invitiation-only event.</p><p></p><p>About 20 people gathered around tables in a Providence elementary school classroom to give feedback on the search for a new education commissioner.</p>Thu, 26 Feb 2015 14:53:21 +0000Elisabeth Harrison47135 at http://ripr.orgRaimondo Kicks Off Search For Education CommissionerUnion Approves Resolutions Against Standardized Testinghttp://ripr.org/post/union-approves-resolutions-against-standardized-testing
<p></p><p>On of the state's two teachers' unions is calling for parents to get better information about how to opt out of standardized tests.</p><p>In a resolution, the executive committee of the National Education Association Rhode Island says the state and local districts should provide written information to parents about their right to remove children from testing.</p><p>The resolution stresses that teachers have a free speech right to talk to parents about opting out of testing, including the new multi-state test known as PARCC.</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:07:12 +0000Elisabeth Harrison47063 at http://ripr.orgUnion Approves Resolutions Against Standardized TestingSenate Finance Committee Hears Slate Of Education Billshttp://ripr.org/post/senate-finance-committee-hears-slate-education-bills
<p></p><p>A series of education bills on the agenda at the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday range from a tax credit for college graduates to funding for charter schools.</p><p>One bill would give recent college graduates a break on their state income taxes. The idea is to stem the so-called “brain drain,” when local graduates put their newly-minted degrees to work in other states.</p><p>The measure would give a maximum $5,000 credit for a worker who received a bachelor’s degree from a local college or university within the last 10 years.</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:17:37 +0000Elisabeth Harrison47051 at http://ripr.orgSenate Finance Committee Hears Slate Of Education BillsAchievement First To Open Second Elementary School In Providencehttp://ripr.org/post/achievement-first-open-second-elementary-school-providence
<p></p><p>The second Providence elementary school operated by charter school network Achievement First will share a building with its first elementary school, which opened in 2013.</p><p>The building on Hartford Avenue was formerly home to a public middle school, but the city shut down the school, citing the cost of rehabilitating an aging facility.</p><p>Achievement First says it plans to eventually re-located the new school, "Iluminar Academy," but the co-location is likely to last about two years. The two schools will offer similar programs.</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:08:25 +0000Elisabeth Harrison47049 at http://ripr.orgAchievement First To Open Second Elementary School In ProvidenceState Submits Final Race To The Top Reporthttp://ripr.org/post/state-submits-final-race-top-report
<p>Rhode Island education officials have submitted their final report to the federal government, tracking the state's $75 million federal Race to the Top Grant.</p><p>According to the report, the grant paid for nearly half of Rhode Island educators to receive training in the Common Core standards. It also paid for a data system that is supposed to help teachers get feedback on how their students are doing.</p><p>State officials say approximately $4.8 million of the grant money remains to be spent. It has been committed to ongoing projects and is scheduled to be paid out by the end of June.</p>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 21:31:11 +0000Elisabeth Harrison46997 at http://ripr.orgProvidence School Board To Request Leniency On School Yearhttp://ripr.org/post/providence-school-board-request-leniency-school-year
<p></p><p>The Providence School Board has voted to ask&nbsp; for a one-day reprieve from the state-mandated school year. Rhode Island Public Radio's Elisabeth Harrison has details.</p><p></p><p>State law requires 180 days in the school year, but that may prove difficult for Providence, which has already taken six snow days.</p><p>Without leniency from state officials, the district may have to extend classes into the week that includes the July 4th holiday. That's less than ideal because many families and employees had planned to head out of town by then.</p>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 21:09:21 +0000Elisabeth Harrison46994 at http://ripr.orgProvidence School Board To Request Leniency On School YearRhode Island Schools Improving, Says U.S. Education Secretary Duncanhttp://ripr.org/post/rhode-island-schools-improving-says-us-education-secretary-duncan
<p>Congress is hammering out new requirements for public schools and federal school funding. The current bill, commonly known as the "No Child Left Behind Act," has been controversial because of the way it uses standardized test scores to measure public schools. Changes to the bill have been proposed in both houses of Congress. &nbsp;</p><p>Federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan spoke with Rhode Island Public Radio's education reporter Elisabeth Harrison from Washington, D.C. to explain what these proposals could mean for Rhode Island.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:57:36 +0000Elisabeth Harrison46970 at http://ripr.orgRhode Island Schools Improving, Says U.S. Education Secretary DuncanNew President Says RISD Can Play A Key Role In Economic Developmenthttp://ripr.org/post/new-president-says-risd-can-play-key-role-economic-development
<p></p><p></p><p>After an international search, the Rhode Island School of Design has settled on one of its own to take over as president. RISD has tapped Rosanne Somerson, a RISD graduate who’s been serving as interim president since December 2013.</p><p>Former president John Maeda stepped down suddenly, after a rocky relationship with RISD faculty. Maeda surprised many at RISD when he announced he had taken a job at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers.</p>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:59:45 +0000Elisabeth Harrison46796 at http://ripr.orgNew President Says RISD Can Play A Key Role In Economic DevelopmentRISD Selects New Presidenthttp://ripr.org/post/risd-selects-new-president
<p>The Rhode Island School of Design has selected Interim President Rosanne Somerson to takeover the position permanently. The RISD Board announced the decision to faculty and students on Wednesday morning.</p><p>“President Somerson is a gifted, inspiring leader with great integrity, humility and vision, and is the perfect fit for RISD,” said Board of Trustees Chair Michael Spalter in the official announcement.</p>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:15:00 +0000Elisabeth Harrison46743 at http://ripr.orgRoof Collapses At Brown Sports Centerhttp://ripr.org/post/roof-collapses-brown-sports-center
<p>A portion of the roof at Brown University's Pizzitola Sports Center has collapsed under the weight of heavy snow.</p><p>The roof was made out of fabric, and the collapse affected the tennis facility at the complex.</p><p>Brown officials say no one was injured in the collapse, which happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning.</p><p>According to Brown, this is the second time the Pizzitola roof has given way under snow. The first time was in 2011.</p><p>The company that designed and installed the new roof is looking into the problem.</p>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:06:29 +0000Elisabeth Harrison46520 at http://ripr.org